The key decision for a statesman is whether to commit his nation or not. There is no middle course. Once a great nation commits itself, it must prevail. It will acquire no kudos for translating its inner doubts into hesitation.

I believe that there is a whole set of issues in the world - environment, proliferation, energy, cyberspace - that can only be dealt with on a global basis. The traditional patterns of national rivalry and national competition are not suitable for those cases.

I've often said that the desire to lecture China on how it should behave in the world is wrong. China was around for thousands of years even before America existed. It could even be that China's growing power will allow itself to be slowed down. But as long as this immense empire doesn't fall apart, it will become an important factor in global politics.

Obama is like a chess player who is playing simultaneous chess and has opened his game with an unusual opening.

I don't stand on protocol. Just call me your Excellency.

The public life of every political figure is a continual struggle to rescue an element of choice from the pressure of circumstance.

In 10 years, there will be no more Israel.